Fellowships
Fellowships
A full college education cannot exist within the walls of a classroom alone. That’s why we encourage and support students who decide to pursue nationally competitive fellowships.
Awards represent hundreds of thousands of dollars that allow students to pursue goals such as researching small-scale fishing in the South Pacific, investigating intervention services for people with disabilities in India, completing a master’s degree in scriptwriting in the U.K., teaching English in Austria and co-creating an anthology of stories in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
The Office of Fellowships is dedicated to helping students identify and apply for opportunities they feel will most benefit them both during and after their time at W&L.
2023-24: A Record Year
W&L enjoyed another record-setting year for nationally competitive fellowships in 2023-2024, including 12 Fulbright recipients, earning the university “top producer” status for Fulbright U.S. students for the sixth consecutive year.
Fellowship Stories
W&L students have an outstanding track record of fellowship success thanks to the academic preparation and support they receive from our faculty and staff. Here are some of their stories.
Marshall Scholar
Katie Yurechko ’24
Katie, a 2024 graduate with a double major in computer science and philosophy, was named Washington and Lee University’s first Marshall Scholar in December 2023. She was one of 51 scholars chosen to begin graduate studies at universities across the United Kingdom. The scholarship fully funds one to three years of study, which she will spend at the University of Oxford and University College London.
Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service
Alina de Zoysa ’25
Alina, a sociology major with minors in education and poverty and human capability studies, has been awarded the Voyager Scholarship, the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service. The Voyager Scholarship is a two-year program that gives juniors who are interested in a career in public service financial support and the opportunity to expand their horizons through meaningful travel and access to a supportive network of mentors and leaders.
Knight-Hennessy Scholar
Tanajia Moye-Green ’23
Tanajia, a 2023 graduate with a major in sociology major and minors in poverty studies and data science, was one of 90 scholars chosen in 2024 to begin or continue graduate studies at Stanford University. The scholarship fully funds up to three years of study, and scholars also participate in the King Global Leadership Program to complement their graduate school education. She is Washington and Lee University’s first Knight-Hennessy Scholar.
Rhodes Scholar
Tahri Phillips ’23
Tahri, a 2023 graduate with majors in cognitive and behavioral science and English, was named Washington and Lee University’s 18th Rhodes Scholar in 2022. She was one of 32 scholars chosen to pursue graduate studies at the University of Oxford in England. The scholarship, which averages approximately $75,000 per year, and up to as much as $250,000, fully funds two to four years of study at Oxford.
W&L Celebrates Fellowship Awards Record
Through hard work, supportive faculty and staff and an expanded Office of Fellowships, a record number of W&L students received nationally competitive fellowship awards in 2023-24.
Finding Your Path
For Washington and Lee University’s Jack Evans ’25 and Adja Ndiaye ’26, receiving a Gilman Scholarship redefined what was possible during their four years on campus and beyond.
W&L’s DART Fellowship Participants Gain Valuable Experience in Lab Research and Patient Care
Maren Barclay ’27, Beamlak Abebe ’28 and Martha Afoakwa ’27 spent their summer in research labs across the country through the DART Fellowship program.
Fellowship Awards Allow Washington and Lee Recipients to Forge New Paths
Inspired by life-changing study abroad opportunities, many W&L students decide to pursue fellowships that allow them to complete meaningful work on a global stage.
W&L’s Alexander Kagan ’27 Named a Constitutional Studies Fellow by the Hertog Foundation
Kagan will spend two weeks in an intensive learning experience focused on American constitutional history and development.
W&L’s Sarp Sahin ’26 Earns Fulbright Cardiff University Award
Sahin will continue his research of Parkinson’s disease at Cardiff University in Wales before attending medical school.
W&L’s Elly Dyer ’26 Selected for Teaching Assistant Program in France
Dyer is looking forward to gaining classroom experience in France before pursuing a career in education policy.
W&L’s Chuck Rutberg ’26 Selected for Teaching Assistant Program in France
Rutberg is looking forward to building on his French language skills before pursuing a career in the federal government.
Three W&L Students Awarded Boren Scholarships for Global Language Study
With the scholarship, the graduating seniors will conduct intensive language studies in Indonesia and Japan.
W&L’s Margaret Schweppe ’26 Selected for U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
Schweppe is looking forward to developing her German language and teaching skills in an immersive environment before joining PricewaterhouseCoopers as a management consulting analyst.
W&L’s Sarp Sahin ’26 named ODK National Leader of the Year in Academics and Research
Sahin’s award will support his graduate studies at Cardiff University as a Fulbright scholar.
W&L’s Tom Finnegan ’26 Awarded U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
Finnegan is looking forward to sharing his passion for sustainable food systems with the students at a “green” school near Klagenfurt am Wörthersee.
W&L’s Molly Biggs ’26 Earns Fulbright to Germany
Biggs is looking forward to teaching English in Germany, where she can build on previous youth leadership experiences and develop important skills for a career in the climate sector.